Recommended by Andrew Martineau

Beyond the rather raunchy and hilarious action of this sci-fi comedy, there is a rather heartwarming story about a married couple in space attempting to make their final moments together special, with the help of two robots transmitting sensuous feelings to the humanoid pair. I love the Gordon Lightfoot mood-altering effects, along with the reference to Ringo. Inspired lunacy worth taking a wild trip to the outer limits for!

What is so captivating about this piece is how it moves from a conversation about racial stereotyping of hip hop fans to a very serious accusation that could let a police officer off for alleged murder. These young movie theatre employees and friends live in different worlds, and Eddie’s naïveté leads him down a dangerous path that he doesn’t seem to fully comprehend. This is a powerful drama that shows us the complexity of what we observe with our own eyes through different sociological lenses. I would love to see this performed.

As I was reading this short play about contractual dating in the future, I kept asking myself what I really thought about interpersonal communication and romantic developments. I can see how we might come to this, out of a need to protect ourselves from future entanglements that we might have been more cautious about, but the truly satisfying part of Mike Byham’s world here is there is no clear answer as to how first encounters of the romantic kind should go. We just go along for the wild dystopian ride just to see where the coin lands. So good!

As a teacher, I was deeply moved by both of these beautiful ly rendered monologues. The first one asks simple requests, which essentially are about other people treating these vulnerable kids with dignity and respect. The second one is from the perspective of a former 9 1 1 dispatcher, and it shows that keeping kids safe at school cannot always be guaranteed. Both monologues show us professionals who truly care about kids. Every school board member everywhere should read these.

Our “brave new world” of online social interactions is examined in exhilarating absurdist fashion by Rachel Feeny-Williams. I found myself laughing out loud and gasping in horror at the bots’ stereotypical responses on gender norms. Are the comments outdated or still relevant? There is a lot to unpack here, but the theatricality present in this visual world is wildly creative. Wonderful!

Ethan is a war hero, but he doesn’t ask for the honor he deserves. He only asks for peace—his own peace of mind devoid of the “distraction of humanity.” This superb monologue, presented in sublime poetry, is a powerhouse of dramatic expression. What a gift for actors by the amazing writer, Glenn Alterman. I will not forget Ethan or his story.

Father and adult daughter plays will usually have complex, nuanced storylines and dialogue, and Kim Ruyle’s short play about a dad waiting to see a doctor after a Ping-Pong injury is no exception. An interesting debate about gender stereotyping ends up breaking stereotypes, but what is really clear here is there is genuine love between these two, even when they may not always see eye to eye. I love the breaking of the fourth wall. A smart, engaging piece!

Just when you think the whole “friends with benefits” storyline has been played out, you read a short piece like “The Argument” and realize that there is a lot more you had never considered about the pleasure for pleasure’s sake vs. emotional intimacy debate. Neil Radtke has created quite an intriguing play that is both unexpected and engaging. This could spark a lively post show discussion. Well done!

Randy’s grief is amplified by the callousness and cruelty of someone claiming to be acting out of Christian love and responsibility to her patient. The specifics of Donnelly’s scenario was all too real during the 80s and 90s, but sadly, the general hostility by self-proclaimed “good” people continues today. This play needs to be seen and experienced. It is heartbreaking and powerfully written. Bravo!

Is it really possible to escape the past? Should we even try to escape our past if we have unresolved issues, traumatic events we are trying to work through, or a need to make amends that keeps insisting we never forget? There are so many profound ideas running through this short play, and Samantha Oty manages to make us think while still entertaining us with a suspenseful ghost story. Well done!